Safety method of installing fire-box arch tubes



Nov. 8, l 92 7.

-C. G. HAWLEY SAFETY METHOD OF INSTALLING FIRE .BOX ARCH TUBES Filed May 13, 1922 Patented Ne s, 1927.

CHARLES GILBERT HAWLEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIG-NOR TO LOCOMOTIVE FIRE- BOX COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

SAFETY METHOD OF INSTALLING FIRE-BOX ARCH TUBES.

Application filed May 13, 1922. Serial No. 560,668.

My invention relates to locomotive boiler fireboxes and has special reference to the arch supporting water-circulating tubes commonly employed therein. These tubes give much trouble through becoming loose in the holes wherein they are fastened in the firebox sheets. They are of thin gauge and it has never proven practicable to weld their ends to the heavier sheets which compose the firebox. The object of my invention is so to improve the described structure as to enable the permanent and reliable welding of such arch tubes in place, thereby to avoid the danger of loss of life through the blowing out or displacement of the tubes while the engine is in use.

Generally, my invention comprises a locomotive firebox and an arch tube therein, the ends of said tube being provided with heavy or armor rings or sleeves wherein the respective ends of the tube are secured and which rings are welded to the edges of the respective openings in the firebox sheets.

The nature and details of my invention will be readily understood on reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a locomotive boiler firebox embodying my invention;.Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional detail illustrating my improved method of fastening the ends of the arch tube in the firebox sheet; Fig. 3 is an end elevation thereof taken from the interior of the firebox; Fig. 4 is a like elevation taken from the exterior of the firebox; Fig. 5 shows how my invention relieves the boiler-maker from the-necessity of entering the end of the arch tube at exactly right angles to the firebox as is customary, my invention making it possible for the tube to enter the sheet at any desired or convenient angle; Fig. 6 illustrates a slight modification of the invention, wherein the end of the arch tube is' beadedin the armor sleeve or ring; Fig. 7 illustrates a modification of the invention, wherein the armor ring takes the form of a plate section that is welded into an oval hole in the firebox sheet. and is directly supported by two of the firebox stay-bolts; Fig. 8 is a section on the line 88 of Fig. 7.

In the drawings 2 represents the crown sheet of the firebox; 3 the throat sheet thereof and 4 the back sheet. In Fig. 1, two arch tubes are shown in order to show that my invention makes it possible to now fasten the rear end of an arch tube in the crown sheet, quite as well as in the back sheet of the firebox. The arch tube 5 extends from the throat sheet 3 to the crown sheet 2, while the tube 6 extends from the throat sheet 3 to the back sheet 4, the customary position. Each end of each tube is provided with a sleeve, ring or heavy armor 7, wherein the end of the tube is expanded and against which the end of the tube is headed, as well shown at points 8 in Figs. 2, 5 and 6. When desired, the ring 7 may have an internal groove 7 for the beading of the arch tube in the well known manner. By either of these methods, or, if desired, by welding the end of the sald tube to the ring 7, a thoroughly reliable union is completed. In installing these tubes, holes are first cut in the firebox sheets, the same being slightly larger than the sleeves or rings 7. The tube is then placed in position with the rings in respective openings, after which the heavy rings may be safely united to the firebox sheets by autogenous welds such as I have shown at points 9 in the several figures. In this manner I avoid subjecting the end of the tube to the intense heat of the electric are or gas flame used in making the welds. If it becomes necessary to remove a tube it is only necessary to cut out the welds, retrim the surfaces of the sheet and replace the tubes by new tubes with new armored ends:

A more or less obvious modification of my invention and one which has certain additional advantages, is shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Therein the end of the tube is expanded and beaded in an opening in an oval plate 10, preferably of the same thickness as the firebox sheet 11. After being posir tioned the oval plate is secured to the sheet 11 by an autogenous weld 12. Thereafter the stay-bolts 13 are put in place and headed just as they would be in any other part of the firebox. This tube end device may be cut out and replaced in the same manner as described in connection with the heavy rings or sleeves 7 shown in other parts of the drawing.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

ed, said collars being arranged in openings in said firebox sheets of a diameter sub- .stantially greater than that of said collars 10 and welds uniting said dollars to those edge portions of the sheets defining said openings.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 6th day of May, 1922.

CHARLES GILBERT HAWLEY. 

